Marlins sign undrafted Vanderbilt hero Norwood

PITTSBURGH -- College World Series hero John Norwood may have slipped through the cracks in the First-Year Player Draft in June, but the former Vanderbilt outfielder didn't go unnoticed in the Cape Cod League.

The Marlins heavily scouted Norwood in the wooden-bat summer league, and they presented him with a $275,000 signing bonus.

"He went undrafted, which is amazing," president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. "All our guys as part of their summer coverage were up in the Cape, and he just kept it going, kept swinging the bat and hitting with power and playing a good outfield. It's nice to add another piece into the system."

Norwood is another example of the organization's commitment to bolstering its overall farm system.

The Marlins just traded a talented outfield prospect in Jake Marisnick to the Astros. And the club is seeking to improve its position-player depth.

Norwood gained national attention by belting the College World Series-clinching home run for Vanderbilt.

"He's coming from a great school, defending national champions," Hill said. "There's no hiding people in the Cape, especially when you're a college player hitting with wood and you're productive, there's going to be action on you. There was action on him, and we were fortunate he liked our situation and wanted to be a Marlin."